A computer software tool for aiding in the design of combinatorial logic and sequential state machines comprising, according to the preferred embodiment, an apparatus and methods for representing and displaying a mathematical transform between a binary output variable and a set of binary input variables. The apparatus includes a computer software program which performs a method having the steps of separating input variables of a transform into successive fields, providing field combination maps having cells representative of binary combinations of field variables, assigning field combination maps of successive fields to each preceding field cell, and assigning binary values to field cell chains formed thereby. The computer software program also enables the visual display, on the display of a computer monitor, of the combination maps and the relationship between combination maps of preceding and successive fields. The process of visually displaying the combination maps includes a step of collapsing selected fields and maps associated therewith to reduce clutter on the display and to enable the use of transforms having a large number of input variables without becoming unwieldy. The collapsing of selected fields and maps on the display also enables the selected display of only combinations of those input variables that effect the value of selected outputs. The display of combination maps and the collapsing of selected maps, in addition, more easily enables a user to insure that all input variable combinations have been considered and that only one transform value has been assigned to each of the combinations.
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40. A computerized method of representing a mathematical transform between a binary output variable and a plurality of binary input variables on a computer display, the method comprising the steps of:
separating the plurality of binary input variables into an ordered plurality of successive fields;
generating a plurality of field combination maps for each respective successive field of the ordered plurality of successive fields, each field combination map having a plurality of cells;
forming a plurality of field cell chains representative of all binary combinations of the plurality of binary input variables by associating field combination maps of successive fields of the ordered plurality of successive fields; and,
displaying, in a collapsed form, the field combination maps of each field cell chain of the plurality of field cell chains which include binary input variables that do not affect the value of the binary output variable.
14. A computer-implemented method of representing a mathematical transform between a binary output variable and a plurality of binary input variables on a computer display, the method comprising the steps of:
separating the plurality of binary input variables into a respective plurality of fields, each field of the plurality of fields corresponding to a respective display level of a multi-level display format having a top display level and at least one lower display level;
selecting a combination of the binary input variables of a first field of the plurality of fields, the first field corresponding to a first display level;
identifying combinations of the binary input variables of a second field of the plurality of fields which do not affect the value of the binary output variable for the selected combination of the binary input variables of the first field, the second field corresponding to a second display level lower than the first display level;
displaying, on the computer display at the second display level, the identified combinations of the binary input variables of the second field in at least one collapsed combination map.
1. A computer-implemented method of representing a mathematical transform between a binary output variable and a plurality of binary input variables on a computer display, the method comprising the steps of:
separating the plurality of binary input variables into a respective plurality of fields, each field of the plurality of fields corresponding to a respective display level of a multi-level display format having a top display level and at least one lower display level;
selecting a combination of the binary input variables of a first field of the plurality of fields, the first field corresponding to a first display level;
identifying combinations of the binary input variables of a second field of the plurality of fields which affect the binary output variable for the selected combination of the binary input variables of the first field of the plurality of fields, the second field corresponding to a second display level lower than the first display level;
displaying, on the computer display at the second display level, the identified combinations of the binary input variables of the second field of the plurality of fields in at least one collapsed combination map.
27. A computer program having a plurality of instructions executable by a computer for implementing a method of representing a mathematical transform between a binary output variable and a plurality of binary input variables on a computer display, said computer program for directing the computer to perform the steps of:
separating the plurality of binary input variables into a respective plurality of fields, each field of the plurality of fields corresponding to a respective display level of a multi-level display format having a top display level and at least one lower display level;
selecting a combination of the binary input variables of a first field of the plurality of fields, the first field corresponding to a first display level;
identifying combinations of the binary input variables of a second field of the plurality of fields which affect the binary output variable for the selected combination of the binary input variables of the first field of the plurality of fields, the second field corresponding to a second display level lower than the first display level;
displaying, on the computer display at the second display level, the identified combinations of the binary input variables of the second field of the plurality of fields in at least one collapsed combination map.
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This application claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), on U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/172,829 which was filed Dec. 20, 1999.
The present invention relates, generally, to the field of tools for aiding in the design of combinatorial logic and sequential state machines and, in its preferred embodiments, to the field of computer software and methods for representing and displaying a transform between a binary variable and a set of binary input variables.
Modern digital logic design and analysis often requires the design of combinatorial logic and sequential state machines. The design and analysis process, typically, includes a step of expressing or modeling binary output variables as mathematical transforms or functions of input binary variables. For instance, binary output variables representative of circuit outputs or flip-flop next states may be modeled as mathematical transforms, or functions, of input binary variables such as circuit inputs or flip-flop present states, respectively. Techniques for representing such transforms include truth tables, Karnaugh maps, Quine-MeCluskey method and variable entered maps (i.e., which are illustrated, for example, in Digital Logic and Computer Design, by Thomas McCalla, Macmillan Publishing, 1992). Unfortunately, these representation techniques are found to be suitable, generally, only when the number of input variables is small (e.g., six or less) because the number of tables or maps becomes unwieldy with a large number of input variables, thereby increasing the possibility for errors.
The design and analysis process of combinatorial logic and sequential state machines also, typically, includes a step of confirming that all possible relevant combinations of input variables have been appropriately addressed by the modeling step. Generally, to provide such confirmation, a designer must manually determine, among other things, whether each output variable has been modeled using all appropriate input variables (i.e., some input variables may not effect a particular output variable) and whether a particular combination of input variables has been erroneously duplicated during the modeling step.
Therefore, there exists in the industry, a need for a system for aiding a logic designer in the representation of combinatorial logic and sequential state machines, for assisting the designer in confirming that output variables have been appropriately and non-erroneously included in the modeling process, and for addressing these and other related, and unrelated, problems.
Briefly described, the present invention comprises a system for representing and displaying a mathematical transform between a binary output variable and a set of binary input variables. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a computer software application which implements a method of the present invention on a digital computer apparatus. The method first includes the separation of a transform's input variables into successive fields. For each such field, a field combination map having cells is produced, wherein each cell represents a binary combination of that field's variables. Preferably, the field combination maps are Karnaugh maps. A different field combination map of a successive field is then, preferably, assigned to each preceding field cell, thereby linking each last field cell with one cell of each preceding field to form a field cell chain associated with that last field cell. Binary values are then, preferably, assigned to all field cell chains in accordance with the transform.
The method also, preferably, comprises a step of visually displaying the combination maps and the relationship between combination maps of preceding and successive fields on a computer monitor. The step of visually displaying the combination maps, preferably, includes a step of collapsing selected fields and the maps associated therewith (i.e., selected by a user) on the display of the computer monitor, thereby reducing clutter on the display of the computer monitor and enabling the use of transforms having a large number of input variables without becoming unwieldy. The collapsing of selected fields and maps on the display enables the selected display of only combinations of those input variables that effect the value of selected outputs. The display of combination maps and the collapsing of selected maps also more easily enables a user to insure that all input variable combinations have been considered and that only one transform value has been assigned to each of the combinations. Overall, such display, facilitates the design and analysis of combinational logic circuits and sequential state machines and enhances a designer's understanding and control of logic transforms.
The method further, preferably, comprises steps of encoding the transform in a linear array and storing the encoded transform in successive storage locations. Such encoding minimizes the storage capacity required to store the transform, thereby enabling the method to be employed on a computer, or similar device, having limited storage capacity. Additionally, the method, preferably, comprises a step of restricting output changes to adjacent values where only one output bit changes for each change in an input combination. By so restricting output changes, a logic device implementing the transform will operate faster.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to represent and display a mathematical transform between a binary output variable and a set of binary input variables.
Another object of the present invention is to enable the representation and display of a mathematical transform between a binary output variable and a large number of binary input variables.
Still another object of the present invention is to represent a mathematical transform as a plurality of combinational maps.
Still another object of the present invention is to enable the display of selected combinational maps in a collapsed form.
Still another object of the present invention is to reduce display clutter when displaying a mathematical transform between a binary output variable and a large number of binary input variables.
Still another object of the present invention is to facilitate the detection of output variables for which no relationship to input variables has been defined.
Still another object of the present invention is to facilitate the detection of ambiguous or incomplete output variable specifications.
Still another object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of storage capacity required for the storage of a transform between a binary output variable and a set of binary input variables.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like components or steps throughout the several views,
According to the method, the input variables have been separated into successive fields 22A, 22B and 22C, as indicated by broken lines 23. These successive fields 22A, 22B, 22C are respectively represented pictorially in
For example, combination map 34 is assigned, as indicated by arrow 38, to cell 30 of plane 24A. This process of defining and assigning successive field combination maps is continued in each successive field and terminates, in this example, with the plane 24C where a last field combination map has been defined and a different one thereof assigned to each cell of the preceding plane 24B. For example, combination map 44A has been assigned, as indicated by arrow 45, to cell 36B of plane 24B. The method of the present invention thereby links each last field cell with one cell of each preceding field to form a field cell chain associated with that last field cell. For example, the field cell chain consisting of cells 48A, 36B and 30 are linked by arrows (field combination map assignments) 45, 38 while the field cell chain consisting of cells 48B, 36A and 30 are linked by arrows 49, 38. These chains respectively represent the binary combinations a′bc′d′ef′ghi and a′bc′def′ghi. Thus, the cells of each field cell chain represent one binary combination of the input variables. The sum of all such field chains represent all binary combinations of the input variables. Therefore, in accordance with the transform being represented, a binary value may be assigned to each field cell chain. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in
As an illustrative example of this binary value designation process specific logic transform 50 is shown in FIG. 1. This transform is represented by entries of binary ones in appropriate cells of the last plane 24C (e.g., a one in cell 48A specifies the variable x to be true for the variable combination a′bc′d′ef′ghi.). To simplify the illustration, a zero entry has been indicated by leaving a cell blank; cells not shown are considered to also contain a zero entry. For clarity of illustration in
Although the method of the present invention may be practiced in a variety of ways, it finds particular utility especially when a large number of input variables are present, with a computer programmed to perform and executing the method steps. Accordingly, the flowchart of
When the method of the present invention is realized with a computer 200 it may be advantageous to provide a computer monitor graphical display 818 to aid the method user in visualizing the process of organizing the input variables into fields, defining field combination maps, and assigning successive field combination maps to preceding field cells. An exemplary embodiment of such a graphical aid is shown with the planes (e.g., plane 24A), and arrows (e.g., arrow 38) of FIG. 1. Accordingly,
One practicing the invention with combination maps comprising Karnaugh maps (as in the preferred embodiment of
It should be understood that “combination map” and “cell” are specific terms referring, respectively, to any logic combination representation technique and elements thereof used to designate specific binary combinations. Accordingly, while the embodiment illustrated in
The invention, as previously noted, facilitates design and analysis of combinatorial networks and sequential state machines. In the case of sequential state machines, the cells of a field may represent the sequential states obtained with flip-flops. In that case, field combination maps in the form of Karnaugh maps may contain more cells than states (since such maps always have 2N cells where N is the number of variables). For example, if A and B are flip-flops used to create 3 states in a state machine, a and b in the Karnaugh map 28 of
The invention may be further illustrated with reference to such a specific sequential state machine example, termed the “Safe Missile System”. This system is designed to control a missile launcher firing a strategic offensive nuclear device that, in order to avoid the inadvertent start of a nuclear war, should be fired only under the proper conditions and in the right sequence of events. In this system, there are four input signals: “FUEL”—indicating presence of fuel, “COMPTR”—indicating computer system ready, “AIMED”—indicating missile guidance aimed at the target, and “BUTTON”—indicating a go button pushed by an operator. These inputs are, respectively, denoted by the input variables w, x, y and z as shown, for reference, in table 138 of FIG. 4G. There are also four states of the system: “READY”—indicating the missile has been prepared for firing, “AIM”—indicating the missile guidance has acquired and locked onto the target, “FIRE”—indicating the missile has been fired, and “INVALID”—indicating that an incorrect sequence has occurred. The four states are shown, each with an assigned reference number from 0 to 3, in the state transition diagram 140 of FIG. 4A. The state transition diagram 140 also indicates transitions, each with an assigned reference number from 0 to 8, between states.
In the Safe Missile System, the transitions between states, in response to input signal combinations, are to occur as follows. Transition 1 (from state 0 to state 1) will occur when FUEL and COMPTR are true and AIMED and BUTTON are false. Transition 2 (from state 1 to state 3) will occur when FUEL, COMPTR, AIMED and BUTTON are true. Transition 3 (from state 0 to state 2) will occur when AIMED or BUTTON are true. Transition 4 (from state 1 to state 2) will occur when FUEL or COMPTR are false or AIMED is false and BUTTON is true. Transition 5 (from state 3 to state 2) will occur when FUEL or COMPTR or AIMED or BUTTON is false. Transition 6 (from state 0 to state 0) will occur when AIMED and BUTTON are false and FUEL and COMPTR are not both true. Transition 7 (from state 1 to state 1) will occur when FUEL and COMPTR are true and BUTTON is false. Transition 8 (from state 3 to state 3) will occur when FUEL, COMPTR, AIMED and BUTTON are true. State 2 is a dead state, i.e. there are no transitions from state 2. The system has one output FIRE which is true when the system is in state FIRE and false for all other states. Essentially the system stays in the READY state until FUEL and COMPTR are true which sends it to the AIMED state. If AIMED or BUTTON prematurely go true in the READY state, the system goes to the INVALID state. From AIMED it goes to the INVALID state if FUEL or COMPTR go false, also goes to the INVALID state if BUTTON goes prematurely true and goes to the FIRE state when AIMED and BUTTON go true while FUEL and COMPTR are still true. If any of the inputs go false in the FIRE state, the system goes to the INVALID state. No state transitions occur from the INVALID state.
Since there are four sequential states to be obtained, two flip-flops will be required (four states can be described by two binary state variables; 2*2=4) to implement this system. If the output of these flip-flops are denoted “A” and “B”, the binary combinations thereof can be assigned to the sequential states as shown in the next state map of
There are three transforms that describe the circuits to realize the Safe Missile System. These respectively express the system output FIRE and the next states A+ and B+ of the flip-flops A, B in terms of the four input signals w, x, y and z and the two flip-flop present states A and B. For this example, the transform for the next flip-flop state A+ will be represented using a method in accordance with the present invention. It is seen, from the assignment of states in combination map 160, that the next output state A+ of the flip-flop A will be true when the system goes to states 1 or 3. Looking at the response of system sequential states, in response to flip-flop present states A, B and input signals w, x, y and z in
A+=A′B′wxy′z′+AB′(wxz′+wxyz)+ABwxyz.
In this example, it has been assumed that the flip-flops A and B are D flip-flops so that the output follows the input. Thus, the transform above represents both the flip-flop A's next state output and input. If other flip-flop structures (e.g., JK flip-flops) were used, their transfer function would need to be applied to realize a transform relating the input of the flip-flops to the input variables and present flip-flop states. Such a transform could then be used to design a circuit that would realize the Safe Missile System.
A method, in accordance with the present invention, of representing the sequential state transform for A+ is graphically illustrated in
Although the method of the present invention provides for a large number of variables to be examined, the combinatorial explosion makes assignment of each individual combination burdensome. In order to alleviate this problem, the number of variables that are displayed can be reduced to only those variables that affect the output. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in the flowchart of
With the input variables marked as active or inactive, an array of inputs is generated, at step 233, to indicate which variables are active or inactive. Because the active variables must be used in the combination map display in a continuous and preferably sequential order, those active inputs are arranged, at step 234, in an array that defines the order that the active inputs will be displayed in the collapsed display. This array, in combination with the active and inactive marking of inputs, as well as the number of inputs to be displayed is used, if desired, to display the collapsed lower level combination map for that higher level combination at step 236.
In
The method encodes a boolean equation that maps input variables to an output, using a linear array of storage locations. One of the locations contains the number of equations already encoded in this transform. Each encoded equation corresponds to an output bit of the transform. The equation either sets or resets that output bit of the transform, depending upon an indicator, such as an ordinal value in that location, which signals that this particular output bit is to be set. Another indicator, such as a single bit in that location, indicates whether the output bit is asserted or not asserted. In typical representations of the art, each equation would be in the form of a product of sums or a sum of products. In the preferred embodiment, and in this example, we will use the sum of products, where several minterms are made of anded inputs that are ored together. This equation is used to test a combination of inputs that is presented to the transform to determine whether the outputs of the transform are high or low. The determination of whether an output bit is high or low is described by the flowchart in FIG. 10.
Another location (which is also an element of the linear data store) identifies the location of the end of the array. This end of array delimiter enables another equation to be added. Another location shows the number of equations encoded in the array. Another location shows the number of storage locations needed to represent all output bits. For example, if the number of bits in a storage location were 8, then at least 2 storage locations are needed to represent a transform with 10 output bits. Two locations would be needed because the first storage location would contain 8 of the 10 bits and the next location would contain the remaining 2 of the 10 bits.
Another location identifies which bit is to be asserted by the encoded equation that follows and indicates, perhaps by a bit in that storage location, whether that output bit is high, or true, when the input variable conditions are satisfied and the output bit is asserted. Another location, perhaps the next storage location, contains the number of minterms in the equation. Another location, perhaps the next location, contains the number of variables in the first minterm of the first equation. Another location, perhaps the next, contains the first variable identifier of the first minterm of the first equation and an indicator as to whether this identifier is noted or not noted.
The variable identifiers describe whether the inputs presented to the transform must be high or low in order for that minterm to be asserted in the equation. Another location, perhaps the next location, contains the second variable identifier of the first minterm of the first equation and an indicator as to whether it is noted (0 or false) or not noted (1 or true).
The variable identifiers of the first minterm of the first equation continue until all variable identifiers in the first minterm are listed. Then, the number of variables in the first minterm of the first equation is stored at the next location. This variable count is duplicated so that the algorithm, which is used to construct the encoded array, can backtrack and place the number of variables before a minterm after the number of variables for that minterm is known. After this first minterm description, the next minterm, if any, is described by a location containing the number of variable identifiers, then the variable identifiers for that minterm, then the number of variable identifiers is repeated for that minterm.
If another equation were encoded in this array, then the next location would include a numeric value that would indicate which bit is to be asserted. In the same location, there would also be another indication, such as a single bit, that if asserted, is to be asserted as a set (high, 1) or reset (low, 0). The next location would then show the number of minterms in that equation. Then, the number of variable identifiers for that minterm is found. Then, the identifiers and the indication as to whether they are to be noted or not noted, then the repeat of the number of variable identifiers, then the next minterm of that equation, or the beginning of the next equation, and so forth.
The method then determines if there are any more variable identifiers. If the array has more variable identifiers, then the method gets the next variable identifier at step 307. The method determines if the retrieved variable identifier is noted at step 308. If it is not noted, the method checks, at step 309, to see if the corresponding input is not noted. If the corresponding input is not noted, the method returns to check for an equivalence between the next variable identifier and the corresponding input. Otherwise, the method marks this minterm as false and returns to check the equivalence between the next variable identifier and the corresponding input, if there are more variable identifiers. If the value is noted, the corresponding input is checked to see if it is noted. If the corresponding input is noted, no action is taken and the method checks for any other variables. If the corresponding input is not noted, then the method marks the minterm as failed at step 310, and checks the next variable identifier. If there are no more variable identifiers, the method checks, at step 312, to determine whether the minterm was left or remained marked as true. If the minterm remained marked as true, then the entire equation is marked as true at step 313. If the minterm was marked as true, then the entire equation is marked as true 313. If the minterm was false, no action is taken and the method determines, at step 304, whether other minterms exist.
If the method determines, at step 304, that there are no more minterms, the method checks, at step 314, to see if the output is asserted. If the output is not asserted, no action is taken and the method checks the next equation, if there is another equation. If the equation is asserted, the method checks, at step 315, to see if the output bit is to be set or reset when asserted. If the output is to be set, the method sets the output bit at step 316 and overwrites and sets to one (1 or true) any previous equation value for this bit. If the output bit is not to be set, the output bit is reset at step 317 and any previous equation for this output bit has it's result overwritten by a zero, false or low value for that bit.
To avoid unnecessary operations, in an alternate embodiment, the method may branch out of the loop to affect an “and then” or an “or else” where no more of the “anded” variables are tested. The reason this branch out of the loop can be made is that if one input does not match what the variable identifier should be, then the whole minterm is false, or no more of the minterms are tested, since one is already true.
With the two equations 417, 418 encoded in the array, if the combination of inputs presented to the transform is a binary (i.e., base 2) six, where input0 has a value of one, input1 has a value of zero, and input2 has a value of one, then bit zero of the first equation 417 has a value of one. Bit zero has a value of one because the first minterm of the first equation 417 is asserted and has a value of one. Bit three has a value of zero because the first and only minterm having only one variable is noted because input1 has a value of zero. Therefore, bit three is asserted, but is asserted as a value of zero.
The method of the present invention enables restriction of the display outputs to “adjacent” changes. The term “adjacent”, as used herein, means that outputs change by only one bit. The display of those adjacent values will indicate what can be used as adjacent outputs. The advantage of this output change restriction is to allow a change of outputs that does not have to wait for multiple outputs to reach their desired logical level of one or zero. In synchronous logic machines, outputs are not gated to outside logic until a time period event. This time period event is sometimes signaled by a clock change. Not having to wait for this clock change can significantly improve execution speeds of logic devices because the change can occur immediately upon the change of inputs presented to the transform.
Entering a transform specification by using several boolean equations instead of entering a value for each combination is desirable, but use of equations may result in inadvertent errors. The method of the present invention enables a check to be made that allows the user to be notified when any new specification overwrites a previously specified combination. The user is also notified if any of the combinations has not been explicitly specified. Such testing guarantees that the specification is complete and unambiguous.
Continuing at step 914, a determination is made as to whether the user is done inputting combinations of inputs for which outputs will be newly specified. If the user is not done, then the method loops back to step 906. If the user is done, then the method advances to step 916 where a determination is made as to whether any of the combinations are not specified. If so, the method branches to step 920 where those combinations of inputs that have not been specified are displayed to the user on monitor 818. Otherwise, the method stops at step 922.
Whereas this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to its most preferred embodiments, it is understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention, as described herein before and as defined in the appended claims. The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means plus function elements, if any, in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or acts for performing the functions in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.
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